N.Y. man arrested in soap/cocaine mix-up sues in Pennsylvania
ALLENTOWN (AP) – A New York man who spent 29 days in jail after Pennsylvania state police mistook homemade soap for cocaine has filed a lawsuit.
The (Allentown) Morning Call reports Alexander Bernstein said he had to pay thousands of dollars in court costs and missed Thanksgiving with his toddler before the charges were dropped. He is seeking a jury trial and damages in excess of $150,000. State troopers and the field test manufacturer are named in the suit filed last week.
Bernstein was a passenger in a Mercedes-Benz that was pulled over for speeding near Allentown in November 2013.
Troopers smelled marijuana, searched the car and found packages the driver said was homemade soap, but tested as cocaine. Lab tests later showed it was soap.
State police declined to comment.